Apparatus for cleaning grain.



APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26. I916- ab 1 9 1 Ru am e D M w M P 4SHEETS-SHEET I non/5 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, I916.

F. C. DICKSON.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAIN. APPLICATION FILED JAN-.26. 191s.

mwwm Patented Dec. 5,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- v F. C. DICKSOM. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAINAPPLICATION man JAN.26, 191s.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 AURA/EV cars 0. IIDICKSON, or noursvrnnn, KENTUCKY,nssrenon on ONE-HALF 'ro enn'rr saonn, or LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

lun'rus non cnlnnnme- GRAIN.

neonate.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l[, FRANCIS Cmoonn Thomas, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of Loulsvllle, county of Jefferson, andState of Kentucky, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Cleaning Gram, of which the following is a speclfication.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning grain, with moreparticular reference to its applicability to removing smut from wheat orother edible cereals.

An object of this invention is the provis on of a process whereby smut,and the peculiar odor thereof, as well as the other ob ectionable odorssuch as those due to the presence of wild onions, may be thoroughlyremoved.

Smut is a parasitic fungus which grows upon many kinds of grain, variousspecles of which have an offensive odor, on account of which they areknown as stinking smut. Smut clings very tenaciously to Its host, aportion only thereof being removed in the process of threshing. .A verysmall percentage of smutted wheat 1n a shipment lessens its marketvalue, while any conslderable quantity of smut renders a shipmentunmarketable. Many expedients resorted to, to clean smut from grain,have met wlth partial success only, as smut pores lie n the kernelfurrows, from whence it is difficult to dislodge them. I have discoveredthat 1f wheat, or other grain is agitated in a suitable acidulated bath,the-smut will be completely removed, and its characteristic odordestroyed. T have found that a halogenous acid is preferable, and thathydrochloric acid, (the muriatic acid of commerce) gives the bestresults, an aqueous solution containing from two to fifteen per cent. ofacid being used,.the strength of the solution varying with the conditionof the grain. After treatment in the acid, bath, the grain is treatedwith clear water to rinse away all traces of the acid; it is then dried.It will then be clean, free of odor, and will grade A 1.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus whereby said process maybe carried on continuously and which will give a maximum output with aminimum of expense.

A further object is the provision of apparatus for carrying out saidprocess which will be economical in construction and efficient anddurable in service.

"With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, where n 1s set forth an embodiment of theinvention, but it is to be understood that such changes andmodifications may be re sorted to as come within the scope of theappended claims. I

Referring to the drawing wherein similar reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views, Figure 1, is a In theembodiment of the apparatus as illustrated herewith-the reference character. -11- designates a slosh tank of suitable construction which issupported by legs 12 A sloping bottom 13-- leads to a semi-circulartrough, or conveyer box -14-. A11 agitator shaft -15- suitably mountedwithin the box 14 extends exteriorly thereof and is provided with asprocket wheel 16 by means of which motion Patented nee. a, tare.

may be imparted to the shaft. Within the box, a plurality of flights, orblades 17, adjustably secured on the shaft, serve to thoroughly agitate,or slosh about the contents, while at the same time moving itforward,'longitudinally of the trough. The center portion of theflights, or blades is cut away leaving an opening 18, and the angle ofinclination of the flight, relative to the axis may be varied. The tankdischarges through a conduit -19 into an inclined, conveyer 20. 'Wateris introduced into the tank, from a suitable source of supply by meansof a pipe 21-, and the acid is admitted through a pipe -22-, from asuitable receptacle as -23. It is obvious that the proportions of acidand water admitted into the tank, may be regu- The connection betweentot sequently the liquid rises in the conveyer n20, to the same level asin the tank. Grainfrom a' suitable source of supply is led into the tankby means I of a conduit 32,

of baffle plates.-30, 31- are suitably positioned in the :tank. Grain isdelivered direct to the conveyer, in the trough and at oneend thereof,in order that the inflow inggrain may-not interfere with the move mentof the grainin the tank. The arrange:

ment of the flights 17 issuch as to slosh or agitate thorou hly thecontents of the tank, imparting a orward and rotary movement to thegrain which sends it upward and forward through the surrounding liquid.In their movement the kernels strike the baffle plates and are deflectedthereby causin other kernels. I he attrition thus produced, togetherwith the detergent action of the liquid completely removes the smut andthe odor thereof is destroyed by'the chemicalreaction. The circularmovement of the grain causes the separation of any husks, or lighterseeds, such as those of wild onion, which aided by an upward current ofthe liquid, caused by the circulating pump, ascends to the surface andpasses off through the overflow, to the filter.

When the grain reaches the far end of vthe trough, it drops through thechute 19,

" into the inclined conveyer 20. The conveyer 20 is of a type well knownto the art, and is not'thought to require, more extended descriptionthan to. say that it comprises a cylindrical shell 33' within which is Imounted a shaft 34 carrying a spiral 37 which extend longitudinallysolution is rinsed ofl of the grain.

flight -35. The shaft 34 is provided exteriorly of the conveyer tube,with a bevel Theunder side of the tube 33 a, plurality of perforationsupward for a spaced distance from the point to which the liquid, fromthe tank, rises. These is provided with perforations are for the purposeof allowing adhering liquid 'to drain from the grain. A

false bottom, or pocket -38 is disposed under the perforations to catchthe drainp%pe --39 which connects with the pipe 26 which leads to thefilter. reaches the upper end of the conveyer 20 it descends through achute -40 into a and overflow, and lead it to a drainage When the grainhorizontal conveyer 41 wherein the a llelild e horizontal conveyer issimilar to the inclined conveyer, comprising a cylindrical shell --42-,within which is mounted a shaft -43-- which carries a spiral flight 44-.The shaft 43 extends exteriorly of the conveyer and is provided with asprocket wheel 15: A spray pipe -46 is disposed within the horizontalconveyer, above the them to collide with the spiral flight,extending'longitudinallythereof, and is supplied with water, fromasuitable sourc e,'by means ofa pipe 47=-. The e under side of the shellof the horizontal cons which leads down into-the tank and delivers thegrain direct into trough 14. A plurality veyer is provided withperforations -48-- posed under. the perforations and lead the rinsingsto the drain pipes .51, 52-.' 'When the grain reaches the far end of thehorizontal conveyer it is entirely free of acid, and here it isdischarged into a chute .53 which delivers it into an Archimedeanconveyer 54-. This style is likewise well known to the art and needs noextended description. It comprises. a cylindrical shell 55' whichisrevolved bodily, the shell be ng supported on rollers 57, andreceiving motion by means of a sprocket 58 'which encircles the shell. Aspiral flight 56- is secured to the inner surface of the shell. Thisconveyer is pitched slightly downward from the entrant end.

Heated air, conducted from a suitable source of supply, through a pipe60-, is forced into the conveyer 54 at the exitjend thereof, and in itspassage therethrough takes up all the moisture clinging to-the passinggrain. The action of the Archimedean conveyer is such that the grain isbeing constantly rolled over and over. and shifted in position so thatevery portion of it is subjected to the action of the current of-heatedair. Grain is discharged from this conveyer into a chute -61 by which itmay be led to any desired depository. The various mechanisms recelvemotion from a main driving shaft 62 on which is .mounted a pulley -63 bymeans of'which power is imparted to the shaft from a suitable source(not'shown). Secured on the main shaft are sprocket wheels 64, 65-, fromwhich, through suitable mediums as 66, 67 motion is transmittedrespectively to the sprocket 58 on: the Archimedean conveyer and thesprocket 45 on the shaft 43. A bevel gear -68 transmits motion from themain shaft to a transverse shaft 69. Secured on'the transverse shaft aresprocket wheels -70, 71--. A suitable medium as 72 leading from thesprocket 70 transmits motion to a sprocket 73 secured'on a counten-shaft-74- and a bevel gear -75 meshes with the bevel gear 36 on the shaft 34in the inclined conveyer 20. A- suitable medium 76- --leads from thesprocket 71 on thetransverse shaft 69 to they sprocket 16 on theagitator shaft 15. The circulating pumpis actuated by abelt -77-.leading from a pulley 78 -'on the transverse shaft 69.-.In starting,water is admitted to the tank until it reaches the overflow, then thevalve 24-is opened and acid admitted until the solution reaches thedesired strength. Power is then turned on, and the agitator bladesthoroughly stir the mixture. Grain is then admitted through the feedspout 32. The water valve is adjusted to admit sufficient water to makegood the loss of what is carried ofl by the grainand the acid valve isadjusted to admit the amount necessary to maintain the solution at thedesired strength. As the condition of the grain varies the strength ofthe solution may be increased or decreased accordingly by admitting moreor less acid. Extraneous substance such as husks, wild onions, or othermatter which rise to the surface of the solution in the tank, may beskimmed ofi' or allowed to pass ofl with the overflow and removed fromtime to time from the filter. I

It is thought that the foregoing description is suflicient to enableanyone skilled in theart pertaining thereto, to' utilize my improvedprocess, and to construct and operate the apparatus described herein forputting the process into practice.

Having thus described my invention so that anyone skilled in the artpertaining thereto may make and use the same I claim:

1. In apparatus for desmutting and deodorizing smutted grain, a tankfor-containing cleansing fluid, a filter, an overflow pipe leading fromthe tank to the filter, means for returning the fluid to the tank afterfiltration, an inclined tube containing a conveyer which leads from apoint directly below thetank to a point above the same, a fluid tightconnection between the tank. and the tube whereby the fluid stands atthe same level in both tank and pipe, a horizontal tube containing'aconveyer, a connection leading from the upper end of the inclined tubeto said horizontal tube, a second horizontal tube into which theaforesaid horizontal tube discharges, and means for directinga currentof air through the last named tube. j

2. In apparatus for desmutting and deodorizing smutted grain, a tank forcontaining cleansing fluid, a filter, an overflow pipe, leading from thetank to said filter, means for returning the fluid to the tank afterfiltration, an inclined 'tube which extends from a point below the tankto a point above the same, a fluid tight connection between the tank andsaid tube, a second tube, and a connection leading from the upper end ofthe inclined tube to the second named tube.

3. In apparatus for desmutting and deodorizing smutted grain, a tank forcon-' taining cleansing fluid, a filter, an overflow pipe, leading fromthe tank to said filter, means for returning the fluid, to the tankafter filtration, an inclined tube'which extends from a point below thetank to a point above the same, a fluid tight connection between thetank and said tube, a second tube, a connection leading from the upperend of a third tube into which the second named tube. discharges, meansfor introducing grain into the tank, means positioned respectively inthe tank, and tubes for moving the grain therethrough, the floor of theupper portion of the inclined tube being perforated whereby the grain isdrained as it is passed over the same, and means for conducting thedrainage to the filter.

4. In apparatus for desmutting and deodorizing smutted grain, a tank forcontaining cleansing fluid, a filter, an overflow pipe, leading from thetank to said filter, means for returning the fluid to the tank afterfiltration, an inclined tube which extends from a point below the tank,to a point above the same, a fluid tight connection between the tank andsaid tube, a second tube, a connection leading from the upper end of theinclined tube to the second named tube, a third tube into which thesecond named tube discharges, means for introducing grain into the tank,means positioned respectively in the tank, and tubes for moving thegrain therethrough, the floor of the upper portion of the inclined tubebeing perforated whereby the grain is drained as it is passed over thesame, means for conducting the drainage to the filter and a spray pipe,within the second named tube for rinsing the grain.

5. In apparatus for deodorizing and desmutting smutted grain, a tank,baflle plates positioned therein, semi-circular depressions in thebottom of said tank, a shaft revolubly mounted therein, a plurality offlights on said shaft, an inclined tube which extends from a point belowthe tank to a point above the same, a fluid tight connection between thetank and said tube, a helical conveyer in said tube-,"a second tube, ahelical conveyer therein, a spray pipe disposed in said second tube, andan Archimedean conveyer into which the second tube discharges.

' 6. In apparatus for desmutting and deodorizing smutted grain, atank,baflle plates positioned therein, semi-circular depressions in thebottom of said tank, a shaft revolubly mounted therein, a plurality offlights on said shaft, an inclined tube which extends from a point belowthe tank, to a point above the same, a fluid tight connection betweenthetank and said tube, a helical conveyer in said tube, a second tube, ahelical conveyer therein, a spray pipe disposed insaid second tube, anArchimedean conveyer into which the second tube discharges, and meansfor directing a current of air through the last mentioned conveyer.

FRANCIS G. DICKSON.

the inclined tube to the second named tube,

